To meet the state requirements and the needs of Fort Worth ISD teachers, AAS provides a three tier professional development model:

Tier I - G/T Academy - a 30 hour introduction to gifted and talented, assessment, identification, social and emotional needs, academic rigor, and curriculum differentiation - Next Sessions: November 14th, January 30th, and February 20th @ Applied Learning Academy:

Tier II - TAG - You're It! - 6 hour annual renewal, for a total of 36 hours, focused on teacher implementation of G/T differentiation strategies in the classroom through the creation and use of a differentiated mini-unit. 

Tier III - Independent Study - 6 hour annual renewal to begin in the 2010-2011 school year - for model cadre teachers to participate in book study and on-line forum creation.

Questions?: Contact Janis Harris - Elementary Coordinator or Michael Calder - Secondary Coordinator 

From TEA's State Plan of Education:

§89.2. Professional Development.

School districts shall ensure that:

(1) prior to assignment in the program, teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students have a minimum of 30 hours of staff development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessing student needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted students;

(2) teachers without training required in paragraph (1) of this section who provide instruction and services that are part of the gifted/talented program must complete the 30-hour training requirement within one semester;

(3) teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students receive a minimum of six hours annually of professional development in gifted education; and

(4) administrators and counselors who have authority for program decisions have a minimum of six hours of professional development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students and program options.

Source: The provisions of this §89.2 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690; amended to be effective February 13, 2000, 25 TexReg 776.